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INSIDE
7 /'' '*u i • ■ v r '
Brad Little talks about his 10 years working with the musical"The Phantom of the wadjjll Opera". 7
' ... V
Student Newspaper of the l/hiversity of Southern California Since 1912
■ -1. jr.,.. .'>#• "< *&/&*"'■>'. ■ ■ v.,z> «,*.•
wmv. dailytrojan.com
IV, No. 61
iZQmsa&i
The need for honesty and the ability t(fpersevere are themes of speech.
By GINA GOODHILL
Contributing Writer
Erin Brockovich-Ellis, initiator of the largest toxic tart settlement in 1/.S. history, spoke about the importance of honesty and the ability of people to make a difference in Bovard Auditorium Wednesday night
The one-hour speech sponsored by USC Program Board drew in an estimated 300 people.
Through a combination of jokes, "personal philosophies” and anecdotes, Brockovich-Ellis discussed the obstacles that she has faced in her personal and professional life, and her ability to overcome them.
' “I don’t have a lot of talent, I’m absolutely not a genius,” said Brockovich-Ellis, director of environmental research at Masry and Vititoe. "But what I did have was perseverance and dedication, and it got me where 1 needed to be.”
Brockovich-Ellis encouraged listeners to stand up for what they believe in, and to try to accomplish any task they want, no matter how difficult the task may seem. She said I see ■wilindili, page 12 I
Massachusetts court voted to declare gay marriage constitutional on Tuesday.
By KEVIN MERICKEL
Staff Writer
The Massachusetts Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage is dividing legal professionals and scholars, USC law and politics experts say.
Tuesday’s 4-3 ruling makes Massachusetts the first state to declare gay and lesbian marriages constitutional. The state legislature has 180 days to vote and make the ruling law.
“The right to marry does little if it does not include the right to marry the person of one’s choice,” the court said.
While liberal judges and lawyers agree with the decision, conservatives believe legalizing same-sgc marriages is wrong, said Howard Gillman, professor of political science.
Some against the ruling believe that the constitutional rights of the legislature were violated, Gillman
said.
The court does not have the authority to pass legislation. Legislative branches of government reserve that power, according to the separation of powers doctrine.
Some in favor of the ruling believe it’s the court’s right to protect the civil liberties of same-sex couples, Gillman said.
The court wrote a new definition I see Court, page 111
Speech. Erin Brockovich-Ellis, whose story was the subject of an Oscar-winhrng motion picture, told students at Bovard Auditorium last night to stand up for what they believe in. * • "
GLBT image in commercials, media discussed at event
The men’s water polo team b*m Cal Baptist for it* £ fourth-straight win. 20 Halle t*rry takes on &;>
another action role in the new movie mGothika.*7
other," Wilke said.
In his presentation, he divided more than 40 television commercials intp (pur categories. Each group portrayed homosexuality arposithre, negative, neutral or gay vague,” a term coined by Wilke to describe ads that leave tht sexual orientation undear, allowing the sudience to decide for
By LINDSEY DAVIS
Contributing Writer
Portrayals
As advertisements increasingly depict gays and lesbians, Michael Wilke is keeping tabs on stereotypes of the community.
Wilke, the executive director of the Commercial Closet Association, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve media portrayals of the lesbian, gay and transgender community, spoke to a crowd of about 50 students last night in Taper Hall The Gay, I esblan, Bi and Transgender Student Assembly sponsored the event "Advertising can do more than affect our brand differences, it can affect how we think about each
New* Digwt—S OproBttnf. 1 Opinion*-----Lifettyle________7
CUujfirtk_____it Sportt.~~_.J0
' Each ’ad’s category was determined by an editorial-driven decision based on a set of criteria, Wilke said.
‘It's more an art than a science” he said Tbett are U many wap to' interpret any ad as there are people looking at ili* * I .
l aae flpaefcar. page it I
Today: Partly cloudy Hitfi 71, low 52
TOmommn Cooler High 62
' ■ • . . «* ■ •*-»**< .* Trocar
ErseanWfcn. Students wa«& a presentation by Michael Wilke, an expert on gay and lesbian marketing snd advertising

INSIDE
7 /'' '*u i • ■ v r '
Brad Little talks about his 10 years working with the musical"The Phantom of the wadjjll Opera". 7
' ... V
Student Newspaper of the l/hiversity of Southern California Since 1912
■ -1. jr.,.. .'>#• "< *&/&*"'■>'. ■ ■ v.,z> «,*.•
wmv. dailytrojan.com
IV, No. 61
iZQmsa&i
The need for honesty and the ability t(fpersevere are themes of speech.
By GINA GOODHILL
Contributing Writer
Erin Brockovich-Ellis, initiator of the largest toxic tart settlement in 1/.S. history, spoke about the importance of honesty and the ability of people to make a difference in Bovard Auditorium Wednesday night
The one-hour speech sponsored by USC Program Board drew in an estimated 300 people.
Through a combination of jokes, "personal philosophies” and anecdotes, Brockovich-Ellis discussed the obstacles that she has faced in her personal and professional life, and her ability to overcome them.
' “I don’t have a lot of talent, I’m absolutely not a genius,” said Brockovich-Ellis, director of environmental research at Masry and Vititoe. "But what I did have was perseverance and dedication, and it got me where 1 needed to be.”
Brockovich-Ellis encouraged listeners to stand up for what they believe in, and to try to accomplish any task they want, no matter how difficult the task may seem. She said I see ■wilindili, page 12 I
Massachusetts court voted to declare gay marriage constitutional on Tuesday.
By KEVIN MERICKEL
Staff Writer
The Massachusetts Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage is dividing legal professionals and scholars, USC law and politics experts say.
Tuesday’s 4-3 ruling makes Massachusetts the first state to declare gay and lesbian marriages constitutional. The state legislature has 180 days to vote and make the ruling law.
“The right to marry does little if it does not include the right to marry the person of one’s choice,” the court said.
While liberal judges and lawyers agree with the decision, conservatives believe legalizing same-sgc marriages is wrong, said Howard Gillman, professor of political science.
Some against the ruling believe that the constitutional rights of the legislature were violated, Gillman
said.
The court does not have the authority to pass legislation. Legislative branches of government reserve that power, according to the separation of powers doctrine.
Some in favor of the ruling believe it’s the court’s right to protect the civil liberties of same-sex couples, Gillman said.
The court wrote a new definition I see Court, page 111
Speech. Erin Brockovich-Ellis, whose story was the subject of an Oscar-winhrng motion picture, told students at Bovard Auditorium last night to stand up for what they believe in. * • "
GLBT image in commercials, media discussed at event
The men’s water polo team b*m Cal Baptist for it* £ fourth-straight win. 20 Halle t*rry takes on &;>
another action role in the new movie mGothika.*7
other," Wilke said.
In his presentation, he divided more than 40 television commercials intp (pur categories. Each group portrayed homosexuality arposithre, negative, neutral or gay vague,” a term coined by Wilke to describe ads that leave tht sexual orientation undear, allowing the sudience to decide for
By LINDSEY DAVIS
Contributing Writer
Portrayals
As advertisements increasingly depict gays and lesbians, Michael Wilke is keeping tabs on stereotypes of the community.
Wilke, the executive director of the Commercial Closet Association, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve media portrayals of the lesbian, gay and transgender community, spoke to a crowd of about 50 students last night in Taper Hall The Gay, I esblan, Bi and Transgender Student Assembly sponsored the event "Advertising can do more than affect our brand differences, it can affect how we think about each
New* Digwt—S OproBttnf. 1 Opinion*-----Lifettyle________7
CUujfirtk_____it Sportt.~~_.J0
' Each ’ad’s category was determined by an editorial-driven decision based on a set of criteria, Wilke said.
‘It's more an art than a science” he said Tbett are U many wap to' interpret any ad as there are people looking at ili* * I .
l aae flpaefcar. page it I
Today: Partly cloudy Hitfi 71, low 52
TOmommn Cooler High 62
' ■ • . . «* ■ •*-»**< .* Trocar
ErseanWfcn. Students wa«& a presentation by Michael Wilke, an expert on gay and lesbian marketing snd advertising